Spark plug



April 8, 1924. 1,489,454

J.V.OSTERHOUT SPARK PLUG Filed March 4. 1922 Patented Apr. 8, 1924. I

UNITED STATES JOHN V. OSTERHOUT, F BBIDGEPOR'I', CONNECTICUT.

- 1,489,454 PATENT OFFICE.

spam: Pru

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial 0. 641,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 01m V. OSTERHOUT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport,- county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark Plugs, of which the following is a full and complete specification, reference being had therein to the appended drawings.

My invention relates to spark plugs adapted for use in internalcombustion engines. Due to variation in the character of the fuel used in gas engines, it is essential that the igniting means of spark plugs provide for reliable and eflicient passage of the sparking current within the explosion chamber. To insure effective operation it is desirable that the spark plug be provided with means to prevent the accumulation of oil or soot. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved device in the nature of a spark plug by which the electric current is positively and effectively caused to produce a spark within the explosion chamber regardless of the tendency on the part of the eiligine to foul the electrode of the spark Specifically, my improvement includes an electrode for a spark plug, which electrode is easy to assemble, inexpensive, and operates effectively under all conditions that may be found in the explosion chamber.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a spark plug embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an extended side view of the elec trode before assembly;

Fig. 3. 's a perspective of the conductor;

Fig. 4 is a top plan viewof the electrode shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a further modification during assembly, and

Fig. 7 is a side view of the same assembled. I

A spark plug embodying one form of my invention is shown in Fig. 1 to consist of an insulating core 8, of customary configuration. Longitudinally through this core is assembled an electrode 9, one end of which is screw threaded as at 10 to form a binding post and upon which a lock nut'11 is threaded to fasten the electrode 9 rigidly through the center of the .insulated core 8. The opposite end of the electrode 9 has a tapered portion 12. The lower end of the electrode may be of any convenient shape although I have shown the same as described in Patent No. 1,373,907, granted me April. 5, 1921. The lower extremity of the portion 12 consists of a sparking point 13. This sparking point may be of any suitable form although it is preferred that the same be a ring of bardened metal which is not affected by the heat of the electric spark. The electrode 9 may be made of any suitable conducting material as is customary.

The core containing the electrode is held within a jacket 14 which is reduced at 15 and in engagement with a corresponding recess in the wall of the explosion chamber. The jacket terminates at one end in a screw threaded tubular projection 16 of less diameter than the portion 15. This tubular projection has an ln wardly extending annular rib 17, for described.

The upper end of the jacket 14 has an internal screw thread 18 which receives the screw threaded locking-ring 19. The ring 19 and the jacket '14 are hollow longitudinally in the customary manner to receive the insulating core 8.

- A gasket 20 fits between the forward end of the locking ring 19 and therearwardly facing shoulder on the member 8. The opposite shoulder of the member 8 rests against a gasket 21. The gaskets 20 and 21 are preferably made of copper coated asbestos. A copper lining sleeve 22 extends from the gasket 21 forward to within a short distance of the annular rib 17. This sleeve may be separate or integral with the gasket 21. 1 i

A secondary electrode denoted generally by the numeral 23 occupies the space between purposes as will be hereinafter the rib 17 and the sleeve 22. This electrode consists of two interlocking rings with which is assembled a conducting wire of s ecial confi ration. As shown in enlarge scale in Fig. 2, a ring 24 is provided having an outer diameter corres noding to the diameter ofthe recess in the j'ac et 14. An upstanding sleeve 25 is, formed integrally with the ring 24.

The central aperture of the ring 24 and its projection 25 is uniform as shown at 26 in in Fig. 5. On opposite sides of, the ring 24,

holes are punched throu h the latter. A second ring 27 is provide of similar material to the ring 24 and with similar outer dimensions. The ring 27 has an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the projection 25 over which latter the ring 27 is adapted to slide.

The sparking points are formed by a wire 28 which appears as shown in Fig. 3 when not assembled. The wire 28 has two parallel ends 29 and 30 while the intermediate part is bent semi-circularly as indicated at 31. In its bent form, the wire 28 is adapted to fit snugly around projection 25 on ring 24 and the ends 29 and 30 will then pass through the holes punched through the ring 24.

Ring 27 when driven over the projection 25 and'against the side of the ring 24 will cause the middle portion 31 of the wire 28 to become embedded in the two rings 24 and 27.

It is desirable to crimp or otherwise bind ring 27 to projection 25. One form by which this binding may be accomplished is illustrated in Fig. 4 where the operation of driving the ring 27 against ring 24 is carried out with a tool the face of which deforms the metal of the two members and leaves portions 32. These portions 32 are formed by the flowing together of the metal from the projection 25 and ring 27. In this manner, the two members are sealed and prevented from relative movement one from the other.

The ends 29 and 30 are bent inward in the 34. The ends 29 and 30 of a wire 28 are passed through holes 36 and 37 respectively until the portion 31 rests against one face of the stamping 33. The portion of the stamping carrying the hole 35 is then bent over alon the dotted line shown in Fig. 6 until the ole 35 registers with the hole 34 menace and the adjacent faces of the plates are then pressed into close contact. The middle portion 31 of the member 28 is thus firmly embedded in-the two parts of the stamping 33. The ends of the wires 29 and 30 are then bent inward to the appropriate degree and the edges of the plate 33 trimmed-to fit the recess in the end of the spark plug jacket. It will be obvious that the shape give the side edges of the plate 33 may vary long as they conform to the cooperating recess in the jacket 14. v

The above description indicates one form of carrying out my invention, and it is to be understood that numerous changes in detail and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A spark plug including a shell, a core and a lock-nut, a removable member held in the shell, said member consisting of two interfitting annular parts, and a conductor held between the partsand having an extremity projecting through one of said parts.

2. An electrode for a sparkplug, consisting of two interfitting annular members, a conductor projecting through one of said members and having its middle portion embedded between the members.

3. An electrode for a'spark plug, consisting of an annular member, a sleeve thereon,

a conductor projecting through said memher with its middle portion in contact with said sleeve, and a second annular member for interfitting engagement with the first annular member.

4. An electrode for a spark plug consisting of a plurality ofannular members and a conductor projecting through one of said members with its middle portion embedded in the adjacent surfaces of the members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN v. OSTERHOUT. 

